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Order of Buddhist Contemplatives
The Order of Buddhist Contemplatives was founded by Rev. Master Jiyu-Kennett to act as the international administrative and support organization for the monastic disciples and lay ministers practicing within the Sōtō Zen lineage and tradition which she brought from the Far East. The purposes of the Order are to bring together its members and congregations into one harmonious branch of the sangha, to assure to the public that the teachings and practices offered by our priests and lay ministers remain true to the Dharma Transmitted to her, and to establish shared rules of conduct, ethics and governance for the members.
The Order promotes a harmonious sangha by fostering communication and the exchange of monks and lay ministers between our various temples in Europe and North America, by the publication of an international Journal of the Order of Buddhist Contemplatives plus this internet site and various other publications, by offering spiritual and material support to monks not otherwise supported by existing temples, by fostering and coordinating cooperative programs across different congregations (such as care networks for the ill and joint planning for retirement living) and by providing through its officers a source of advice and refuge-taking for members and congregations. Its assuring role is carried out through its issuing of certification and ongoing licenses for lay ministry, monastic ordination, Parish Priest and Teacher of Buddhism, through its establishment and continuing recognition of parish temples (“priories”), monasteries and seminaries, through coordination and supervision of the activities of its lay ministers world-wide, and, as above, through the consultation and advising role of its officers. The role of the Order in governance and ethics is carried out via the establishment and implementation of order-wide rules of conduct for monks and lay ministers, via the creation of procedures for addressing grievances and resolving conflicts and, as with its other functions, by providing consultation and refuge-taking through its officers.
The officers of the Order include a head of the Order, an advisor for European matters, an executive secretary and a corporate secretary, treasurers in both North America and Europe, an international lay ministry advisor, and a journal editor. Offices are maintained at both Throssel Hole Buddhist Abbey in England and Shasta Abbey in the United States, with officers traveling frequently to our various temples and meditation groups in Britain, Canada, Germany, the Netherlands and the United States. Please contact any of us through the Order’s main monastic centres listed below, if we may be of assistance.
The Order was first incorporated as a non-profit religious organization in the United States and is seeking religious charity status in the United Kingdom; its legal structure allows it to have membership in any nation and to do its work world-wide. Its various temples are established as their own charitable or corporate entities, and they fund their activities independently of the Order. So as not to place a burden upon the members or the congregations, the Order attempts to fund itself without recourse to dues from members or temples. Aside from voluntary contributions from some temples and a small income from publication royalties and the sale of incense, the Order relies upon the generosity of donations from individuals. These funds are used for its operating expenses, the travel of officers, support of lay ministry activities, the liability and malpractice insurance needed for members in some countries, and the physical support of monks who are establishing new temples or are otherwise not supported by existing temples.
If you feel inclined to join with us in the practice of Zen at any of our temples or meditation groups, please do so, as to make the offering of sharing our Buddhist training with one another is said in Zen to be the most valuable contribution of all. Without that, there is no point in having an Order. Material assistance in furthering the work of the Order is also necessary, and we are deeply thankful for it, whether the contributions be direct donations, bequests or endowments, or gifts in kind (such as services, office equipment, frequent-flier miles on international air carriers, appreciated stock, etc.). Anyone wishing to make a donation may contact any monk or use the information found below to email our treasurers. Donations received from residents of nations other than the US and UK do not at the moment receive tax advantages, but would be very gratefully received.
Please ask a priest or lay minister at any of our temples or meditation groups for whatever additional information about the Order of Buddhist Contemplatives you might wish.
In Europe, you can contact our main monastic centre directly by writing or telephoning:
Carrshield, HEXHAM
NE47 8AL
UNITED KINGDOM
+44 (0) 1434 345204
In North America, you can contact our main monastic center directly by writing or telephoning:
3724 Summit Drive
Mt. Shasta, California, 96067
UNITED STATES
+1 (530) 926-4208
Those interested in making donations may email direct to the Order’s Treasurers
from Europe and Africa to: treas.eu@obcon.org
from the Americas, Asia, and Australia to: treas.na@obcon.org
Order of Buddhist Contemplatives